"I miss Russia a lot": participant of the Open Dialogue from the UAE explains why he came to Moscow again

On 27 April, the II Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth" commenced at the National Centre RUSSIA. Among its participants are many guests who were the attendees of the first event or who have visited Russia before. One of them is Ozcan Saritas, Editor-in-Chief of Foresight journal and Professor of Future Foresight and Strategic Planning at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai (UAE). He admitted that he had missed Russia and had been looking forward to coming back to a place where he has always been impressed by technological development, the warmth of the people, and the country’s rich cultural heritage.

"I lived in Russia for more than 10 years, and, to be honest, I really miss your country both professionally and personally. From a professional perspective, I witnessed how Russia advanced in innovation and technological development. I also admire the stability and continuous improvement of your economy, as well as developments in geopolitics. On a personal level, I can say that I made many friends here, and those friendships remain strong. I also greatly miss theatre, art galleries, and, in general, the entire cultural richness of Russia," said Ozcan Saritas.

The international guest also noted that the Open Dialogue at the National Centre RUSSIA becomes more engaging each year. In his view, it is not only growing in terms of the number of participants, but is also gaining new quality and depth.

"The Open Dialogue is becoming more mature, evolving and moving forward. It is an excellent platform for bringing together strong ideas from around the world. We can see where the world is heading, what it needs, and also understand what Russia needs. And, of course, through the Open Dialogue we can explore new opportunities that are opening up for all participants. That is why I am very much looking forward to its continuation," the professor noted.

The Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth" is an annual international event initiated by the National Centre RUSSIA in partnership with the Centre for Cross-Industry Expertise "Third Rome", and with the support of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation. The initiative was supported by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. By decision of the Head of state, the Open Dialogue has become an annual event.

This year, authors from 98 countries submitted 1,638 essays to participate in the II Open Dialogue. A total of 102 authors from 43 countries advanced to the in-person stage, 75 of whom hold academic degrees. In their work, essayists address topical issues such as the impact of artificial intelligence on people and the future of professions, demographic challenges, institutional crises, digital equality, migration, and access to education.